Falls Creek: Southern Slopes - Luxury Travel Magazine

NOW’S THE TIME TO PLAN A SOUTHERN SLOPES SKI HOLIDAY. THE KOSCIUSZKO CHALET HOTEL AT CHARLOTTE PASS, AN OLD SKI-IN SKI OUT FAMILY FAVOURITE, HAS RAMPED UP ITS ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP FOR THIS SEASON WHILE FALLS CREEK HAS EXPANDED ITS UNIQUE HUSKY TRANSPORT SERVICE.

Charlotte Pass in the Snowy Mountains is the oldest and highest ski resort in Australia and an annual visit staying at the charming Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel is somewhat of a tradition in many Australian families. From generation to generation families with beginner skiers book rooms at the hotel year on year. While the youngest members of the family master the carpet, the older ones find long enough, vertical enough runs to keep them happy until the entire family graduates to altogether more challenging slopes perhaps further a field. The Charlotte Pass slogan of “no cars, no crowds, no long lift queues” is descriptive enough of why the resort is great for young families but it’s the skiin ski-out convenience of the chalet that makes it a no-brainer.

Fairly basic rooms serve their purpose well as a comfortable base for days spent on the slopes and après ski fun around big, open fireplaces throughout the chalet in the evenings. A special kids sitting at dinner time means the parents get some adult time over their own dinner, when the children move through to a lounge area to watch a movie together. The chalet is big enough to feel grand and spacious and small enough for the kids never to be too far from supervising adults at any time. This season, the après ski line-up begins with a high tea every afternoon in the Adams Cocktail Lounge where a range of tea blends will be served with fresh scones and ribbon sandwiches. Also new this season, Charlotte Pass Ski Resort will offer an all day kids program for children from three to eight. The program includes two, two-hour group lessons, hot lunch and indoor games and activities. And each week this season there’ll be a Kids Flare Run for the little ones to show their stuff on the slopes. When they come back to the chalet, there’ll be a hot chocolate supper set up for them. Also for the first time this year the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel will offer guests a snow guarantee. If the Kosi Carpet, Osko Carpet and Kosciuszko Triple Chair (to mid station) are not operating because of snow cover five days before guest’s arrival, they can transfer their stay to another date in the same season.

WHERE TO STAY

Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel
Rates for two-night stays start from A$736-1,464 per person depending on room category and season. Rates include meals, lift ticket and oversnow transport. The hotel can arrange equipment hire from A$103 and clothing hire from A$71 for the two days. charlottepass.com.au/chalethotel

WHEN TO GO

The ski season runs from the end of June to mid-September. Charlotte Pass is Australia’s highest ski resort and generally receives more natural snow than other resorts.

GETTING THERE

Canberra is the closest airport to Charlotte Pass, around 200 kilometres away. Virgin Australia flies to Canberra daily from all capital cities and some major centres. Economy fares start from around A$209 one way for longer routes and around A$110 one way for shorter routes. Business class fares range from A$399 to A$1,748 one way. virginaustralia.com

Snow Alliance operates private transfers from Canberra airport to the ski fields. Prices start from A$550 one way for up to four passengers. snowalliance.com.au

Charlotte Pass is snowbound for most of the ski season and can only be accessed by the Oversnow Tranport that departs from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal. Adult tickets are A$50 one-way or A$80 return and child tickets are A$40 one-way and A$60 return. Bookings are recommended and can be made on (02) 64 575 315.

The ski-in ski-out resort of Falls Creek in the northeast of Victoria is set to continue and expand the unique Husky transport service for the next ski season. The service was launched in 2011 with a fleet of six passenger vehicles imported from Prinoth in Italy, the only ones of their kind in an Australian ski resort. Prinoth is one of the world’s best manufacturers of snow vehicles and the Husky’s use state of the art technology. The vehicles tread profile is designed to preserve the roads in the village and one of the vehicles has been fitted with a tiller and two fitted with blades in order groom the snow as they move. Each vehicle holds around 12 passengers a time, is heat controlled and is fitted with a communication system that allows the driver and passengers speak to each to each other. Passengers can be transported to and from accommodation or around the village with prices from A$19.50 for adults and A$12 for children for a one-way trip including luggage transport. The Huskys are available for private taxi hire and during the 2012 ski season will be used for snow tours in and around the resort. fallscreek.com.au

WHERE TO STAY

Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek has 50 self-contained one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two-, three and four-bedroom penthouses with resort facilities. Rates start from A$407 per night during ski season for a one-bedroom suite including breakfast. mirvachotels.com/quay-westresort-spa-falls-creek

WHEN TO GO

The ski season at Falls Creek runs from June to September.

GETTING THERE

The closest airport to Falls Creek is Albury on the New South Wales/Victoria border, around 120 kilometres away. Virgin Australia flies direct from Sydney to Albury daily with connecting flights available from all capital cities and most major centres. Return economy fares from Sydney to Albury start from A$103 one-way and the flight time is around one hour. virginaustralia.com

Snow Limo operates private transfers from Albury airport to Falls Creek. Prices start from A$895 return for up to four people in a luxury 4WD and take under two hours. snowlimo.com.au